Saints to begin with trip to Gloucester

Tom Vickers

SAINTS will kick off their new Aviva Premiership campaign with a trip to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester.

Jim Mallinder’s men travel to the west country on the weekend beginning September 1, with a home game at Franklin’s Gardens against Exeter next up in round two.

The match dates are subject to consultation with broadcasters, with the precise schedule for the first eight rounds set to be announced next Wednesday.

The third round of matches sees Saints travel to Bath, before two home games in succession against Worcester Warriors and London Wasps.

The first east midlands derby of the season against Leicester will take place between November 2-4 at Welford Road, with the Tigers heading to Northampton on the weekend of March 29-31.

Saints’ first trip to the Kassam Stadium to take on new-boys London Welsh will be on the weekend of April 12-14, while the newly-promoted side will come to Franklin’s Gardens on November 23, 24 or 25.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, Saints will take on champions Harlequins at the Gardens between December 21-23, while they travel to Saracens at a venue to be confirmed on December 28, 29 or 30.

Saints kick off 2013 with a trip to Devon to take on Exeter between January 4-6, while they will wrap up their Premiership campaign with a trip to the Twickenham Stoop to take on the Quins.